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Track Track technology draws thousands to IAF


Around 25,000 visitors attended the IAF track show in Münster at the end of May. Kevin Smith and David Briginshaw pick out some of the highlights which were not included in our May preview.


Windhoff shows factory train concept


INDHOFF exhibited two of the vehicles that will make up its High Output Plant system for Britain’s Great Western electrification programme. Network Rail awarded


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Windhoff a £35m contract in December 2011 to develop the “factory train” which will complete an average of 1.6km of track during a single overnight operation. The train will construct foundations and stanchions and install and test overhead line equipment as it moves. The vehicles on show do


New Matisa track machine breaks cover


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HE highlight exhibit for Matisa was its new B66U track machine which is available in continuous and non-continuous versions and includes a number of new innovations aimed at improving performance and reducing operation times. Aided by research at Lausanne Technical University, the new machine incorporates a combined tamping and compacting solution. The tools are positioned side-by-side on a shared platform replacing


separate units found on previous machines. Matisa says this combined solution is designed to reduce the risk of the ballast moving or being disturbed before compression takes place with the tamping tools themselves greater in length to improve performance. Compression is important to eliminate ballast disbursement when a train passes over the track. Matisa president Mr Rainer von Schack told IRJ that researchers in Lausanne carried out analysis of the


optimal pressure that the compression unit should apply to the ballast to maximise stability while improving performance and ultimately track life.


The vehicle is 19m long, and has two bogies as well as a trailer. In addition to the tamping and compression mechanisms, a completely new operator control system is used. Matisa worked with three operators to develop the solution which incorporates a touch screen interface and


not require external jacks to provide stability during operation with the rear of the train designed to counter balance any force which might result in tipping during catenary installation. Deliveries are set to begin this autumn.


specially-designed handheld joysticks. The vehicle also has a new diagnostics system which allows the operator to quickly identify when and where there is a problem. Efficiency improvements include the use of LED lights and a Caterpillar C18 Agex engine, which has an RPM of 1550, significantly lower than 1800–2100 RPM found on previous Matisa machines. It is also designed to completely shut down when the machine is not in operation to save fuel.


Möser road-rail grinding machine arrives just-in-time C


OMPLETED and delivered just hours before the start


of the show, Railshape Master is the new road-rail grinding machine developed by Möser Machinenbau, Germany. The machine is designed to


provide mobile grinding on difficult track sections such as turnouts and crossings with an application range of 1-4km. Möser managing director


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Mr Stefan Möser told IRJ that the new machine is intended to close the gap between large scale grinding machines and handheld equipment.


Four grinding stone units are fitted on each side of the machine which consists of a Mercedes truck and is powered by a 335kW diesel engine. The engine has been specially adapted to reduce noise output


and potential disturbances in cities during night operations. The machine can either be controlled by the driver in the cab of the truck through a central control unit, or remotely using a touchscreen control unit.


Möser says the machine is certified for use in Germany and the process is “nearly complete” for British


infrastructure manager Network Rail. Goldschmidt Thermit is the first customer for the machine which Möser says is available as a service application to private companies or infrastructure managers. Its capability to operate on track gauges ranging from 1000-1668mm means that it could potentially be used on any network.


IRJ July 2013


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